A novel type of nicotinic receptor in the rat central nervous system characterized by patch-clamp techniques.
We present a functional characterization of a neuronal nicotinic receptor in the CNS using patch-clamp techniques and a preparation of acutely isolated neurons from the medial habenular nucleus of 10- to 20-d-old rats. The salient pharmacological and electrophysiological properties of this nicotinic response are (1) its association with a channel that is relatively nonselective for cations and has a unitary conductance of 26.2 (+)+/- 5pS at room temperature; (2) its insensitivity to alpha-bungarotoxin and to neuronal bungarotoxin; (3) its activation by the ganglionic nicotinic agonists nicotine, 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium and cytisine and its blocking by several nicotinic antagonists, mecamylamine, hexamethonium, d-tubocurarine, and dihydro-beta-erythroidine. The combination of these properties has not been reported for any other known type of nicotinic receptor.
Mulle
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URA CNRS 0210 "Neurobiologie Moleculaire," Départment des Biotechnologies, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Changeux
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JP
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009538:Nicotine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D010277:Parasympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D002038:Bungarotoxins; D010277:Parasympathomimetics; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D009538:Nicotine; D000109:Acetylcholine